Quote

"Your own personal honor comes behind that of your family and village. We are shinobi, and as such, are required to do things that we may personally disagree with for the safety and security of our family and our village. It is a great honor in itself to perform these acts, and that is how you should view it."

Isshin is an aristocratic shinobi, born to the main branch of the Reizei family. He is not so far gone that he believes that he is innately better than anyone due to birth alone, but can be quick to reprimand someone who steps out of what Isshin sees as their role.

Background

Isshin was born the eldest son of a lesser known family amidst the Main Branch of the Reizei clan. From birth perfection, entitlement and loyalty were instilled into him. Disobedience was not tolerated and he was expected to bring Honor to himself as well as his family and carry on the traditions and standing of the family as a whole.

His training began early and it was always intended to attend the ninja academy. The basics of shuriken and kunai, instruction in the basics of the Iaido sword style were commonplace as well as early attempts at determining what the elemental nature of his chakra was. This, however, was unfruitful at first in him learning anything about his chakra nature. He was, however, a quick study in Iaido kenjutsu and taijutsu in general so that is where his family focused their efforts in instruction to give him an edge in the academy.

Because of the rigid structure within his family Isshin was not particularly close to his mother and father. He did love them and respect them, just as much as anyone else in his extended family but there was never the warm fuzzy feeling while around them. As soon as he was eligible, he was enrolled in the ninja academy and was placed in a dormitory in order for him to learn some independence while still being under the thumb of his family. He accepted this and went with it, devoting most of his time to classes and training rather than playing and games. He did, however, make a few friends — all of which impressed him for one reason or another, but they were few and far between. About halfway through his time in the academy he finally grasped the nature of his chakra and began to train his Lightning Manipulation while continuing to train his Iaido style.

When Isshin was 15 his team was assigned what was supposed to be a D-rank mission, that turned out to be much more. A simple delivery within the country. The package, unknown to the village, was more sought after and a group of rogue-ninja were hired by someone to intercept and retrieve it by any means neccesary. The rogue ninja were easily as skilled as Chuunin and were more than a match for the team. Isshin and his friends were retreating, attempting to make their way back to the safety of the village after losing the initial fights when they fell into an elaborate trap set up which caused a massive rockslide. Isshin managed an explosive combination of his lightning and Iaido skills, but was far from powerful enough to make it perfect. One of his friends died, the other was injured bad enough to have minimal chance of being a ninja again while Isshin was placed in the hospital for some 6 months while bones mended, his body knit and physical therapy was done.

Isshin worked hard and got better, going back out on missions as soon as he was able. It wasn't too long before his family and the village took notice of his abilities and promoted him to the rank of chuunin about a year later.

Personality

Isshin is not without kindness, but takes his role as a shinobi very seriously. He trains very hard, takes extra patrols and is rarely seen taking time off for himself. He is loyal and adheres to his own code of honor.

While duty bound and loyal Isshin is also somewhat emotionally detached. He was raised in what would more resemble boarding school than a loving family environment. While some are not bothered by this, Isshin adapted it to his view of life and people in general and tends to keep a vast majority of others at arms length.

Also, due to the constant turmoil in the shinobi world and the fact that he is a shinobi himself he is naturally suspicious of everyone until proven that there is no need to be. He will go as far as verbally interrogating people from his village who are returning from abroad until satisfied they are in fact who they say they are.

In spite of his age he has taken on the role of instructing some of the younger members of the Reizei main-branch family. It has given him a sense of pride as well as purpose.

Appearance

This young-man has a reserved, stoic demeanor overall. His complexion is dark accompanied by bright green eyes and very light blonde hair that is spiked up and around his head while bangs fall down passed his eyes, stopping just above his mouth. His build isn't large, but well toned and lithe.
He wears a modified, less baggy style hakama with a navy blue undivided bottom and white top with navy-blue trim. While modified to be less baggy, it still has a fair bit of space and secured in the waist tie, which is actually his kumogakure forehead protector, is a simple looking katana with a dull charcoal scabbarad and hilt. On his feet are a pair of tabi socks in woven sandals.

Timeline

Age Zero: Isshin was born to lesser known family within the Main Branch.
Age Five: He began basic kenjutsu training and formal aristocratic indoctrination.
Age Seven: Isshin's training broadened to kunai and shuriken as well as basic shinobi instruction
Age Nine: Entered academy with very high expectations
Age Twelve: Graduated academy with very high marks
Age Fifteen: Isshin was victim on a mission to enemy shinobi and seriously injured. A friend was also injured, another died.
Age Sixteen: After recovery, continued to train as a ninja and was given the rank of Chuunin

Personal Journal

23rd of August, 6 A.F.
Isshin met his first pupil from the main branch after being appointed to train him. Reizei Ikuma met him on the mountain peak for a gauging of his abilities. After a satisfying spar, Isshin was secretly impressed with his student.

25th of August, 6 A.F.
While out in the Land of Rice Patties Isshin came upon a simple teahouse on the path. Having finished his recon and seeking some quiet reflection he stopped in. It was not long before uneducated goons began to harass him and a beautiful blonde from Kirigakure. What started as disrespect led to the rather untimely death of the men before Isshin took his leave to return to Kumogakure.

Abilities

Clean Cut — A basic D-Rank kenjutsu ability. Isshin learned this at a very young age through instrunction while in the academy as has become quite proficient with it.

Lightning Flow Sharp — A more advanced C-Rank Elemental kenjutsu. Though not formally trained in Lightning Kenjutsu this ability manifested itself and likely saved his life during the mission that claimed the life of his friend. He was able to cleave a swathe through falling debris before succumbing to the rockslide.

Reizei Iaido Kata — This C-Rank kenjutsu ability seems mundane, but in the hands of a trained Reizei can be very brutal. Isshin has been training in the Iaido style since he was a young child and through that constant training has achieved a respectful level of abilitiy.

Lightning Block — This D-rank defense combines physical deflection and Lightning. Isshin developed it during his spars at the ninja academy and makes constant use of its dual natures of both defending and delivering a nasty shock.

Acrobatic Dodge — Using his natural speed and fluidity the ability to dodge in more extravagant ways came naturally to Isshin

S Rank

A Rank

B Rank

C Rank

D Rank

Social

Extras

Cigars - Isshin developed a taste for fine cigars after becoming a chuunin. However, he rarely is seen with one and hides this from most people.

Tea - Another habit that he loves to indulge in when time permits is visiting small teahouses in other countries while on patrols and missions and if not in the village or on a mission can normally be found in one of these establishments